Cross Checked!

Over the barriers - Starcrossed 2008

Always stayed away from cyclocross. I used to race so much during the spring summer months, that I just wanted to rest once the fall cross season rolled around. This year I am inspired! I have'nt been racing at all this year so I decided to get my fill with cyclocross this fall.

Ryan Trebon at Starcrossed 2008

I have always looked at Cross with a sense of curiosity and bewilderment. I overheard a fellow racer call it the crack cocaine of bike racing. Makes sense. The races are short and sweet...a quick hit so to speak. The pros racing, at the most, 60 minutes. They are mildly anarchistic for racers frantically make their way through narrow courses that wind like labyrinths through a public park or a farmer's field. You race on a modified road bike, designed with mud clearance in mind. They combine facets of road biking, mountain biking and steeplechase. They are mostly off road, and with the fall Scottish weather, the sport surface is soggy, muddy, dirty and challenging. How much fun is that!

Jeremy Powers at Starcrossed 2008

Even more fun is taking pictures of cyclrocoss antics. The challenge, drama, excitement, speed, pain and accomplishment. Trying to capture all via camera is a fun task in itself.

Tom Skinner at Team Wedgewood Cross 2008 - Vancouver B.C.

Here are some links to some of my new found gurus of capturing cross. My favorite is PDXCross. These guys from Portland go to all the local races, hop on their bikes, race in their chosen categories, then when finished their races they don the cameras and shoot the other categories. They get home and post the images in a slide show for all their brethern to see! They really portray the magic of cross, and what it means to the regular blokes like me who want to burn some calories, enjoy the mud and have fun with their buds. Next is the Cyclocross group on Flickr, here. Shots from all over the world. Lastly, a true cross foto fan named Joe Sales. Great photographer. You always see him out at the Vancouver area races and sometimes at the Seattle area races. He always has a smile on his face, he is an avid strobist with a fantastic eye for the details and essence of cross. Enjoy!